Johnny Reb,

Most impressive! You have my unstinted appreciation for the work you have done on my behalf.

For your information my request was instigated by the discovery that Pvt. Jared E. Sanford was evidently the flag orderly to Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas during the Civil War. There is a small mention of him contained in the published minutes of the Nineteenth Reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, which was held in Chicago on the 19th and 20th of September, 1888. Page 59 of that publication contains the following passage, spoken by Lt.-Col. Robert Burns, 4th Michigan Cavalry, during the Society's business meeting.

"The Society has enjoyed the pleasure of seeing, at our meetings here, the old headquarters flag of General Thomas. It rests behind you. We are indebted for that pleasure to the courtesy of Comrade J. E. Sandford (sic); and I move that a vote of thanks be extended to Comrade Sandford for the care he has taken care of it, and for his kindness in bringing it here."

The said motion was unanimously approved.

It is apparent from the above that Sanford still personally retained the former headquarters flag, possibly by virtue as a gift from Thomas, himself, or by Mrs. Thomas after the great General's death in the Spring of 1870. That particular flag, I believe, is illustrated in the Quartermaster General's 1887 publication, Flags of the Army of the United States Carried During the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. I also recall some time in the past seeing a very remarkable post-war photo purported to be of Thomas's command flag. The flag, however, is loosely gathered around the upright staff in three different areas, each gathering held in place by ornate ties. Standing next to the flag and holding the staff is a very decidely-looking Western theater soldier. The flag is obviously a large silk, national flag, but the wrapping and gathering of the flag hides the distinctive markings and detail, even though the photo is of superior quality and definition. I believe that the soldier in that photo must be Jared E. Sanford.

Some years back I asked the late Howard Michael Maddus about that flag. He was able to tell me that it eventually wound up in the West Point museum, although by then the flag had deteriorated badly, the stars and "D.C." letters having separated from the canton. The "D.C." stood for the Department of the Cumberland. A magnificent golden eagle was painted opposite the canton upon the stripe field.

I will now be contacting the West Point curators to find out the date of acquisition of that flag.

Once again, Johnny Reb, great job! Thank you!

Joe Meyer